Retail Ad-Venture

For the past year I've been splitting my time between East Coast/West Coast and PLT/DNA-- and things just got a little more interesting! My DNA business partner and I are now co-currating an amazing new retail/art/event space called The Common in San Francisco along with the guys from Taylor Stitch. Together we've hand picked our favorite lines of men's and women's clothes and accessories all designed and produced in the USA. Our lines are: "Centered around fine craftsmanship, and an educated aesthetic, traditional in tendency, contemporary in conduct." The space also houses a beautiful, adjacent gallery with a bar and a stage for live music. We're putting together an amazing calendar of art shows, concerts, shopping parties, movie screenings, and special events. For an incredible one-stop retail and cultural experience, please visit us at: 1077 Mission Street (x7th Street) SF.

See more pics here. And check out The Common on Esquire, Daily Candy and SF Gate.

Shop Social

Our next DNA (designers+artist) event is here! This time, we have some of the coolest, influential, and well buzzed about fashion websites: Chictopia, Polyvore, Nasty Gal (ahem, NY Times, Women's Wear Daily, The New Yorker, anyone?) joining us to co-host Shop Social. A fun event/shopping party celebrating amazing, talented designers and artists from San Francisco and Los Angeles while highlighting the power of social media in the fashion industry. A few spotlight designers: HarptusOwn, Dimepiece, Serial Cultura, and Alyssa Nicole. If in the area, please join us for a night of fashion, shopping and cocktails! Shop Social: April 20th 6-9:30 pm W Hotel (181 3rd Street San Francisco) . Tickets. Press.

POP!

A few weeks ago over drinks at a Fashion Week event, my friend Myra and I were talking about how the shopping scene has changed in NYC since the emergence of Pop-Up Shops, and how this fresh and innovative concept has kept a lot of young designers and entrepreneurs afloat in these unstable economic times. Not only have pop-ups helped to stimulate our economy, but they've also introduced consumers to a fun and interesting way to shop again that will likely stick around for many years to come. Myra and I are both somewhat bi-coastal, so we decided to bring a little New York flavor to the Pop-Up Shop concept on the west coast, where the trend is just starting to catch on. Hence our brand new venture: DNA (designers+artists)! We've been busy scouting for fresh and established talent for our grand opening tomorrow in San Francisco, and we've put together a nice group of amazing clothing and accessories designers for our first event. SF has been very welcoming to us and our concept-- Daily Candy and 7x7 (the city's fashion and culture bible) have recently given us nice shout-outs! We hope to bring DNA to Los Angeles in the new year and back to NYC for a little homecoming event. In PLT news: Spring 2010 is looking HOT! Get ready for dangerous heavy metal action. Stayed tuned...

Think Pink! Shop For Breast Cancer Event, SF

I am excited and proud to be hosting a very special event for a very good cause on July 7th in the lovely city of San Francisco-- Shop For Breast Cancer, where I will be previewing my Fall '09 collection: Concrete Jungle and holding a sample sale where a portion of all proceeds will be donated to an amazing organization: The Breast Cancer Fund. Their message is important-- prevention through awareness and education: "In response to the public health crisis of breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Fund identifies – and advocates for elimination of – the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease. No more than 10 percent of breast cancers are genetic, and science increasingly points to toxic chemicals and radiation as factors in the sharp rise of breast cancer incidence. Through public education, policy initiatives, outdoor challenges and other innovative campaigns, the Breast Cancer Fund mobilizes the public to secure the changes needed to stop this devastating epidemic". Please visit their website to learn more about what they are doing to put an end to breast cancer and to get involved. On a personal note, I lost my wonderful Aunt Ade last year to this disease. I am doing this for her and for everyone that has been and will be affected by it. Every little bit helps!! For more information on the event, sponsors, and other participating designers, please visit our blog here (www.shopforbreastcancersf.blogspot.com).

Shotwell SF

A few weeks ago while in San Francisco, I discovered an awesome store called Shotwell. The store is beautifully decorated with antiques and cool finds, yet feels perfectly modern with its amazing selection of local designers and well known labels such as Surface to Air, Scout and Cheap Monday. They also carry a nicely edited collection of vintage and accessories. One of my favorite finds there was an amazing designer named Jasko Begovic who's clothes are both art and acid trip in one.

Shotwell 35 Geary Street San Francisco (415) 399-9898